DOMINANT ANGLE
Santiago is deciphering Trump's attack on Zelensky through the prism of diesel: Russian refineries hit, global prices under tension and American farmers invoked.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Trump stated on Saturday, October 10: "it's time for Ukraine to have a new president", one who can "reach an agreement" (La Tercera, BioBioChile).
- 02
The agreement with Putin provides, according to La Tercera, for more than 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel to be delivered "immediately" and then 500,000 tonnes in November.
- 03
Trump announced that he would allow Russian operations on diesel until April to control the global price surge (BioBioChile).
ANALYSIS
Santiago, October 11, 2026. Chilean media outlets, La Tercera and BioBioChile, report on Donald Trump's remarks against Volodymyr Zelensky as an episode initially linked to diesel. On Saturday, October 10, the American president estimated that "it's time for Ukraine to have a new president (...) who can conclude an agreement," adding that "Zelensky, for one reason or another, never concludes any agreements." According to La Tercera, he said this from Andrews Base in Maryland. BioBioChile places him in front of the White House, before his departure for Tennessee, where he was to hold a meeting ahead of the legislative elections.
The central criticism concerns Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries. Trump claims that Zelensky "wants to create problems for our farmers" and for the world, since "Russia supplies a large part of the world's diesel." He says he told him: "You can do what you want to Russia, but don't attack the refineries." La Tercera also quotes his more blunt phrase, according to which Kiev "should stop that."
The two articles put these remarks into perspective the day after the agreement with Vladimir Putin. According to La Tercera, Moscow would "immediately" deliver more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the American and global markets, and then 500,000 tonnes in November. BioBioChile adds that Trump announced he would authorize Russian operations on diesel until April to contain the global price increase. Zelensky had deemed this agreement "unfair" as early as Friday.
BioBioChile notes that the delegation sent by Kiev to Florida to meet with American emissaries for Ukraine cut their stay short. The newspaper also quotes Trump stating that the war "began due to incompetence" and that with another leader, Ukraine would not have already lost 30% of its territory.
The treatment remains factual and centered on Trump's statements, with little perspective. The two texts do not provide any Chilean or Latin American reaction, and neither dwells on the legitimacy of a foreign president designating the Ukrainian leader. What stands out for the Chilean reader is the link between fuel prices, war, and American electoral issues, rather than the question of Ukrainian sovereignty.
